Khalil: winning the tournament and immortalising the team is our goal
UAE striker Ahmed Khalil has called upon his teammates to “immortalise” their names in Emirati football history at this month’s Asian Cup on home soil.
The host country, staging the continent’s premier tournament for only the second time, kick off the expanded 24team event on Saturday night, when they take on Bahrain at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium.
Drawn in Group A, the UAE will then face India and Thailand as they bid to seal one of the two spots that guarantees progress to the knockout stages. The last time the Asian Cup took place in the Emirates, in 1996, the hosts recorded their best finish to date, coming home runners-up following defeat on penalties to Saudi Arabia in the final. However, only 11 teams participated that year.
Last time out, in Australia 2015, the UAE finished third, with Khalil integral to his country clinching bronze. The Shabab Al Ahli Dubai club striker scored four goals, bettered only by teammate Ali Mabkhout.
However, this time Khalil is targeting the title. “The current generation of players is in need for a new achievement that would immortalise its name in UAE football records, especially on a continental level,” he said. “Winning the 2019 Asian Cup is our goal and our players are very much aware of the extent of the responsibility that they bear.
“They also know that everyone is eager about our team’s participation in this tournament and to watch us in the final.”
Khalil cited the collective as key to the UAE’s chances of success, with Alberto Zaccheroni’s men seeking to turn around mixed form that has contributed to a run of six victories from their 18 matches since the Italian was appointed as manager in October 2017.
The forward, 27, said he understands the degree of difficulty in this month’s tournament – the UAE are Asia’s eighth-ranked side – before he called upon the home fans to offer support to help drive forward their team.
“Winning the cup requires a lot of effort and concentration,” Khalil said. “I wish all the best for the players. However, victory cannot be achieved by wishes, but by serious and continuous work.
“We are all dreaming of seeing our team on the podium. But turning this dream into a reality can only be achieved by exerting more effort and working in the right way.”
The final takes place on February 1 at Zayed Sports City.
The Asian Cup kicks off on Saturday with the UAE hosting the quadrennial tournament for only the second time.
The first time the country hosted the continental showpiece, back in 1996, there were only 11 teams with just two venues used, in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
This year’s tournament will be the biggest in the competition’s history, featuring 24 teams across four venues – Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai and Sharjah – with eight stadiums hosting the 51 matches.
As hosts, the UAE will kick off the 2019 tournament against Bahrain at Zayed Sports City Stadium on Saturday, which was also the venue for the opening match in 1996, as the national team played out a 1-1 draw against South Korea. Al Shabab’s Khamees Saad Mubarak was on the scoresheet that day.
A 3-2 victory over Kuwait was followed up with a 2-0 win over Indonesia, with midfielder Adnan Khamis Al Talyani on target in both, as Tomislav Ivic’s UAE side finished top of Group A to reach the quarter-finals, with Kuwait and Korea also advancing.
Iran, led by the prolific striker Ali Daei, who would go on to finish as overall top scorer with eight goals, topped Group B ahead of Saudi Arabia and Iraq; Japan and China advanced to the last eight from three-team Group C.
UAE needed extra-time to seal a 1-0 victory over Iraq to book a semi-final date against Kuwait, who were dispatched by the same scoreline as Ivic’s men reached a first Asian Cup final.
After edging a seven-goal thriller against China, Saudi Arabia faced Iran in the last four. With neither defence breached after 90 minutes and extra time, the game was decided by a penalty shootout, the Saudis prevailing 4-3 to set up a championship match against their Gulf neighbours.
The final, held at Zayed Sports City, was a cagey affair and neither team could be separated. Penalties were required once more.
With Yousef Saleh and Hassan Saeed Ahmed both failing from 12 yards, Khaled Al Muwallid converted the decisive spot kick as Saudi Arabia prevailed 4-2 and clinched their third, and still most recent, Asian Cup title.